Game apparatus



Nov. 1, 1938.

GAME APPARATUS Filed July .l2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet -1 JzE/v z/M- y flZZezaJ NOV. 1, 1938. JQZE 2,135,182

GAME APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r wk;

, fiver/702"; flllezz k7 foze 33 w 11M M jmw Nov. 1, 1938. A.. T. JOZE 2,135,182

GAME APPA-RATUS Filed July 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F" J? v 12 Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES GAME APPARATUS Allen T. Joze,. Chicago, Ill., as'signor, by mesne assignments, to James E. Johnson, Chicago, In. i .Q

Application July 12, 1935, Serial No. 30,977

15 Claims. (o1. 273-145) My invention relates, generally, to game apparatus, and more particularly to a novel apparatus for shaking dice and indicating the results.

A further object is to provide a novel form of dice, the positions of which may be mechanically sensed.

A further object is to providean improved form of electromagnetically operated dice shaking mechanism.

A further object is to provide means for indicating when predetermined faces of a plurality of dice come up.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram showing the circuits for'controlling the indicators;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane represented at 3-3 in Fig. 1; Y i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a die being shaken;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a die and the contact controlled thereby; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the die in a different position; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

The apparatus of my invention comprises, generally, a coin controlled machine in which a plurality of dice are automatically shaken when a coin is inserted to operate the machine. The machine is so constructed that the player can control the length of time that the dice are shaken by means of the coin slide, and means are provided in the machine automatically ,to indicate by electric light signal or other suitable means when the dice come to rest in positions to show certain predetermined combinations of numbers.

The machine comprises, generally, a casing in which may be, except for its rear wall, an integral die casting or may be made in sectional die castings, as illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein side walls l2 and M are permanently secured tothe front wall and top l6 and to a base casting IS. The rear Wall is preferably removably secured to the other walls of the casing as by screws 22 (Fig 3). The front wall i6 is provided with a window glass 26, suitably secured in 'place. A plurality of dice 28, 30, 32 and 34 are observable through the window 26, each die being confined in a sepae rate compartment 35 (Fig. 4) formed in a die casting 38. A plate of glass is securedover the tops of the compartments 36 by means of a pairof'clips'fl. While in the machine illustrated there are four dice and four compartments therefor; it will be understood that my invention may be employed using a greater or lesser number of dicmf Each of the secured at the upper end of a pin 46, the latter being vertically slidable in a sleeve 48secured in a cradle casting 50. The platform 44 has a layer 52 of sound deadening material cemented thereto. Each. of the platforms 4 3 is'provided with a downwardly extending guide-pin 54 which projects through a hole'5i5 formed in the cradle casting 50. Each of theplatforms 44 has a rear- Waridly projecting finger 5 8; The finger 58 is formed as an extension of a rib 69 formed integrally with the platform' M and extends through a s1ot 62 formed in the wall of vthe compartment die casting 38.: 'Acoil spring 654 is positioned between the cradle 58 and each of the ribs 68 of the platforms 44,- tending normally to raise the platform; Upward movement of the platform relative to the cradle'is, however, limited by a cross pin fifiprojectingtransversely through the lower end of the platform supporting pin 45, the ends of the transverse pin 66 abutting the lower end of the guide sleeve 48 to accomplish this purpose.

The compartment casting 38 is supported-by a plurality of stanchions 68 which, are threaded in the base casting. l8, as indicated in Fig; 9. Each ofthe stanchions I58 has a sleeve l0 freely slidable thereon, the: sleeves being rigidly secured near their lower ends to an elevating frame 12. The cradle rests upon the upper ends of the sleeves H1, suitable washers 14 being interposed between thecradle and the ends of the sleeves.

The elevating frame is adapted to be raised by an arm 16 secured to a shaft 18, the arm engaging the central portion of a cross-piece forming part of the elevating frame 12. The shaft 18 is suitably journaled in bearings 82 and 84 and at its extremity opposite the arm l6 has an arm 86 rigidly secured thereto. A link 88 has one end pivotally connected to the arm 86 and its other end pivotally connected to the lower end of a lever 90 which is pivoted at 82. The upper end of the lever 90 is normally held in the position in which it is showninFig. 3 by a relatively strong dice is supported-by a platform 44 tension coil spring 94, one end of which is secured to the lever and the other 'end of which is suitably anchored to the side wall I4 of the casing by a screw 96. The lever 90 is adapted to be swung counterclockwise by means of a shoulder 99 on an actuating bar 98 forming part of a coin slide mechanism I00 whichmay be of any suitable well known construction and which is, therefore, not illustrated in detail. It will be understood, however, that the coin slide mechanism includes a slide I02 which has an aperture to receive the coin and which is manually pushed inwardly, thereby to move the bar 98 rearwardly (to the left, Fig. 3) a sufiicient distance to swing the lever 90 from the position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 8 to the position indicated in dotted lines in said figure.

It will be seen that when the bar 98 of the coin slide mechanism is in the position shown in full lines, the spring 94 will, through the lever 90, link 88, arm 86, shaft 18, and arm 16, raise the elevating frame 12 to its uppermost position, with the cradle 50 in engagement with the lower surface of the compartment casting 38.

When the coin slide is pushed inwardly the bar 98 will engage the lever 90 and swing the latter counterclockwise and, through the train of linkage previously described, swing the arm 16 clockwise (Fig. 3) and permit the elevating frame and cradle 50 to move downwardly (by gravity) to a position in which the cradle engages a hammer I04 which is formed as a part of an armature I06 of an electromagnet I08.

The armature 1 I 06 is suitably mounted for rocking movement upon the electromagnet I08 and has a spring contact arm H0 secured thereto, the arm carrying a contact II 2. Suitably supported by a frame H4 is a contact II6 which is insulated from the frame I I4 and cooperable with the contact H2. The armature I06 is normally rocking to pull it away from the core of the electromagnet I08 by a tension coil spring I I8, one end of which is secured to the hammer arm I20 of the armature and the other end of which is suitably anchored to the shell of the electromagnet I08. It will thus be apparent that when current is supplied to the electromagnet I08 through the contacts H2, H6, the hammer I04 will be rapidly rocked or vibrated, and when the cradle 50 is in its lowered position the hammer will strike the cradle and vibrate the latter.

The means for clearly indicating the positions of the various dice comprises a plurality of lamps I22 mounted in sockets I24 and provided with lenses I26 located immediately adjacent thewindow 26. Illumination of each of the lamps I22 is controlled by a pair of contacts I28, I30, mounted in a suitable support I32. The position of the upper contact member I28 may be varied by means of an adjusting screw I34 threaded in the support I32 and provided with a lock nut I36. The lower contact member I30 is adapted to be moved into contact with the upper contact" member by means of a pin I38 which has a head I40 of insulating material. Each of the pins I38 is suitably guided for vertical movement and has its lower end resting upon the projecting finger 58 of one of the platforms 44.

The dice 28,30, 32 and 34 are not exact cubes. As indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, the die is shown as being of slightly less thickness between the faces numbered 2 and 5 than between the faces numbered 3 and 4 and between the faces numbered I and 6.

When the die comes up with the face numbered either 2 or 5, the spring 64 will raise the platform 44 higher than when one of the other faces comes up, and when thus raised to its higher position the platform 44 will raise the pin I38 a sufficient distance to close the contacts I28, I30.

The supply of current to the electromagnet I08 is controlled by a switch I42 having an actuating arm I44. A grasshopper spring I46 engages the arm I44 of the switch and normally holds the switch'open. The arm of the switch is provided with a sidewardly projecting pin I48 which is adapted to be engaged by an arm I50 rigidly secured to the lever 90. Thus when the lever 90 is swung to its dotted line position the arm I50 will engage the pin I48 and close the switch I42.

The supply of current to the lamps I22 is controlled by a pair of contacts I52, I54 which are normally open. Upon the operation of the apparatus a depending arm I56, secured to the link 88, engages a pin I58 secured to the stem I60 of a dash pot piston I62 and moves the stem I60 to the right (Fig. 3), thus retracting an actuator I64 from contact with the spring arm of contact I52 and permitting the contacts I52, I54 to engage and complete the circuit to the lamps. The piston I62 is preferably in the form of a cup leath-. er and is slidable in a dash pot cylinder I66, the piston being normally urged to the left (Fig. 3) by a compression coil spring I68. A vent I10 is provided. in the closed end of the cylinder I66, the passage of air through the vent being controlled by a needle valve I12 which may be locked in adjusted position by a nut I14.

The source of current for operating theapparatus is indicated in Fig. 5 as a battery of dry cells I16.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described, referring particularly to the wiring diagram of Fig. '2. Upon inserting a coin or token in the coin slide mechanism I00, the bar 98 will swing the lever 90 counterclockwise and through the arm I50 close switch I42, thus enabling the circuit to the electromagnet I08 to be opened and closed bythe contacts I I2, I I6. At the same time the piston I62 of the dash pot will be moved to the right, thus closing contacts I52, I54, whereupon one terminal of each of the lamps I22 will be connected to the battery I16.

As previously described, operation of the coin slide will also permit the elevating frame 12 to move downwardly to a position where the cradle 50 will be struck by the hammer I04, as indicated in Fig. 6. The cradle 50 will thus be violently vibrated, causing the dice to bounce up and down in their respective compartments 36. In doing so the dice will strike the walls of the casing and be so violently shaken that the position at which they ultimately come to rest will be purely a matter of chance. After the coin slide has been held in its innermost position the length of time deemed by the player sufiicient satisfactorily to shake the dice, he will permit the return of the coin slide I02, whereupon the spring 94 will swing the lever 90 clockwise and thus through the removal of the arm I50 from the pin I 48 of the switch arm I 44, permit the grasshopper spring I46 to open the-switch I42, deenergizing the electromagnet I08. Clockwise swinging movement of the lever 90 will also cause the arm 16 to raise the elevating frame 12 to its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 9. At the same time the depending arm I56 will be moved away from the pin I58, thus permitting the spring I68 gradually to move the stem I60 of the dash pot to the left. The orifice controlled by the positioned such that its shorter dimension is vertical, the finger 58 associated with that die will, through its pin I38, close its contacts-128,

As shown in Fig. 2, each pair of contacts I28,

I30 controls the supply'of current to one of the lamps I26. Thus, by glancing at the number of I lamps illuminated, the player may; in an instant determine how many dice have come to rest with their shortest dimension vertical. Itwill beunderstood that while the die shown in Figs. '7 and 8 has its shorter dimension'between the faces numbered 2 and 5, the other dice may have their shorter dimension between different faces. "Due to this fact, it would require considerable attention on the partof the player to determine how many of the dice' were positioned with their shorter axes vertical if the lamps I22 and their controlling circuits were not provided.

After a predetermined time, controlled by the dash pot stem I60, the contacts I52. I54 will be separated, thus opening the circuit to the lamps I22 and conditioning the apparatus for a new cycle of operation.

While the contacts I28, I30 are herein illustrated as controlling lamps I22. it will be understood that these contacts may be utilized to control circuits to various other types of indicating, signalling. or actuating devices. Similarly, the circuits of which the contacts I28, I30 form a part may be so arranged that a lamp or other device is supplied with current only when a predetermined number or predetermined ones of said pairs of contacts I28, I30 are closed.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention. it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the spec fic construction shown but may be embodied in other forms, all coming within the spirit of my present invention.

What I claim and desire States Letters Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of an electromagnet having a coil and an armature, a pair of contacts in circuit with said coil and conto secure by United structed and arranged to be closed when said armature is moved away from said coil. resilient means for moving said armature away from said coil to close said contacts, a hammer secured to said armature, a dice-carrying member, and manually controlled means for substantially s multaneously energizing said electromagnet and movin v said member into the path of movement of said hammer, thereby to cause the latter to vibrate said member.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of a member having a plurality of compartments, a glass cover for the tops of said compartments, a plurality of dice. one in each of said compartments, a resiliently mounted platform at the bottom of each of said compartments, a cradle for supporting said platforms, and manually operated means for moving said cradle upwardly to cause said platforms resiliently to press said dice against said cover. l

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of dice, a compartment for each of said dice, a" platform in each of said compartments, a

support for saidplatforms: resilient means between-saidsupport and said platforms respectively, and'means, for strikingsaid support repeatedly thereby to vibrate said platforms and shake said dice. 4. -In a game apparatus, plurality of dice; a cradle, a platform for each of said dice, resilient means mounted upon said cradle for supporting said platforms, electromagnetic means for vibrating said cradle, and means for moving said cradle away from said electromagnetic vibrating means and de-energizing the latter.

5. In a'game apparatus, the combination of an electromagnet having a coil and an armature, a pair of contacts'operable by s'aid'armature, a switch. a source-of electrical energy, a circuit connecting said coil, conta'cts, switch, and source in seriesqresilient means for moving said armature away from said coil thereby to close said contacts, a hammer secured to said armature, a

dice-carrying member, and manually operated means closing said switch and moving said member into the path of movement of said hammer, thereby to cause the latter to vibrate said member.

6. In a game apparatus, the combination of a member having a plurality of compartments. a glass cover for the tops of said compartments, a plurality of dice, one in each of said compartments. a resiliently mounted platform at the bottom of each of said compartments, a cradle for supporting said platforms, manually operated means for moving said cradle upwardly to cause said platforms resiliently to press said dice against said cover, and means controlled by said platforms for sensing the positions of said dice.

'7. In a game apparatus, the combination of a member having a plurality of compartments, a glass cover for the tops of said compartments, a plurality of dice. one in each of said compartments. a resiliently mounted platform at the bottom of each of said compartments. a cradle for supporting said platforms. manually operated means for moving said cradle upwardly to cause said platforms resiliently to press said dice against said cover, and electrical contacts operated by said platforms.

8. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of dice. each having one of its axial di- -mensions slightly different than another of its axial dimensions. means for shaking said dice, and means for mechanically sensing the positions at which the dice come to rest.

9. In a game apparatus. the combination of a plurality of dice, each having one of its axial dimensions slightly difierent than another of its axial dimensions, means for shaking said dice. and means for mechanically sensing the respective positions at which the dice come to rest, said means comprising a mechanism for calipering one of the axial dimensions of each of said dice.

10. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of dice, each having one of its axial dimensions slightly different than, another of its axial dimensions, means for shaking said dice, means for mechanically sensing the positions at which the dice come to rest, said means comprising a mechanism for calipering one of the axial dimensions of each of said dice, and electrical.

axial dimensions, means for shaking'said dice,

the combination of a means for mechanically sensing the positions at which the dice cometo rest, said means com-' prising a mechanism for calipering one of the axial dimensions of each 01' said dice, anda pair of adjustable electrical contact elements arranged to be operated by said mechanism when a die comes to rest with -a predetermined one of its axes extending in a vertical direction.

12. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of dice, means for shaking said dice, a plurality of sensing means, one for each of said dice, electrical circuits controlled by said sensing means respectively, a switch common to said circuits, means for manually closing said switch, and delayed action means for opening said switch.

13. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of dice, each of said: dice .having an over-all dimension in the direction of one of its axes of lesser magnitudethan'the corresponding dimension in the direction of another of its axes, means for shaking said dice, means for calipering one of the over-all dimensions of each of said dice, and electrical contact means vcontrolled by said calipering means. a Y

14. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of dice each having the over-all dimension in the direction of one of its axes of lesser magnitude than the corresponding dimension in the direction of anotheroof its axes, means for shakingtsaid dice, manually operated means for rendering said shaking means operative, and means operated by said manually operated means simultaneously to render said shaking means inoperative and to sense the positions in which the dice come to rest.

' 15. In a gameapparatus, the combination of a plurality of dice, each having the over-all dimension in the direction of one of its axes of lesser magnitude than the ,corresponding'dimension in the direction of another of its axes, means for shaking said dice, a manually operated slide, means operated by said slide when moved in one direction to energize said shaking .means and when said slide is moved in the opposite direction to de-energize said shaking means, and means to caliper said dice in the positions at which they come to rest, said means being controlled by said slide upon its movement in said opposite direction.

ALLEN T. .JozE'. 

